Wankelmütige

Wankelmütige is a German noun used to describe people who frequently change their opinions, loyalties, or moods. The term is generally evaluative and can carry a pejorative undertone when applied to individuals or groups. It is common in both everyday speech and more formal writing to characterize inconsistency or indecisiveness in thought or behavior.

Etymology and form: The word is formed from wanken, meaning to waver or falter, and Mut, meaning courage or mood. The compound Wankelmut denotes vacillation or fickleness, and the suffix -ige yields a noun referring to a person characterized by that trait. The singular forms are der Wankelmütige (masculine) and die Wankelmütige (feminine); the plural is die Wankelmütigen. In ordinary usage, the plural Wankelmütige is often used to refer to a group in a gender-neutral way when the gender of the individuals is not specified.

Usage and nuance: Wankelmütige appears in literary prose, journalism, and political or social commentary. It describes individuals who shift positions, opinions, or loyalties, sometimes in response to changing circumstances or pressures. The term foregrounds a critical judgment about reliability or consistency and should be used with awareness of its negative connotations. Related terms include launisch (moody), unbeständig (unstable), wechselhaft (changeable), and unzuverlässig (unreliable).

See also: Wankelmut; indecision; fickleness.